Cleaning device



June 27, 1939. s. P. VAUGHN CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 27, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1939. s. P. VAUGHN CLEANING DEVICE Filed July27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ML: M04421;

June 27, 1939. s. P. VAUGHN CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 27, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECLEANING DEVICE Sidney P. Vaughn, San Diego, Calif. Application July2'7, 1936, Serial No. 92,899

(Granted under the act of March amended April 30, 1928; 370 0.

This invention more especially to mops, objects to provide a 13 Claims.

simple and inexpensive construction but which also has an attractive andsanitary appearance.

A further object the provision of a mop which may quickly operated andwhich is be capable of of a room or the dering walls.

of the invention resides in be easily and so designed as to thoroughlycleaning the corners like without injury to the bor- A further object ofthe invention consists in providing a mop consisting of merely a headand a block of compressible, cellular cured thereto.

material se- Another object of the invention resides in the provision ofa mop having a self-wringing feature in that the mop may peditiouslywrung by a handle.

be thoroughly and exmere manipulation of the A further object of theinvent-ion consists in so designing the head cellular material asbending moments when wringing mere pressure on the handle.

Other objects and advantages of will be apparent from of the mop andblock of to eliminate unnecessary the mop by the invention the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the mop, with the handlebroken away.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the mop.

Figure 3 is a perspective view modified form of mop.

of a slightly Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mop having a differenttype of head.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the construction shown inFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a still further modified form of mo DFigure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the construction shown inFigure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing the shape of the block of mop materialprior to being clamped into the mop head of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a mop pail or scrub-bucket combinedwith a screen having a is especially adapted for disclosed herein.

is an edge view of a strip of sponge the blocks are cut.

another form 3, 1883, as G. 757) of mop in which the heel portion of thehead is inclined downwardly.

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the mop shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of a mop 5 differing slightly fromthat shown in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 is an end elevational view of the mop of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a plan view of the screen and 0 wringer shown in Figure 10.

Figure 1''! is a plan view of a modified screen and wringer for use in asink or the like, and,

Figures 18 and 19 are sectional views taken on lines 18-18 and l9-l9 ofFigure 17.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and especially to Figures 1and 2, the numeral i indicates a substantially oblong mop head formed ofa block of wood or the like and provided with an upwardly inclinedsocket 2 for the 2 reception of the usual handle I.

The forward portion of the head I is provided with a toe or hook portionI which is adapted to cooperate with a lug or other abutment forwringing the mop, as will appear hereinafter. 26

The mop material 5 employed in the present structure is cellulose spongeand is cut into the shape of elongated blocks having a substantiallyvertical rear side and outwardly flared front side and ends asillustrated. This block of material 30 is secured to the under-side ofthe head I by cellulose water-proof cement and is so positioned that itsupper surface extends somewhat beyond the front edge and ends of thehead as indicated in Figure 1. The rear edge of the head I ex- 35 tendsa substantial distance beyond the rear face of the sponge block 5 toprovide what may be termed a heel 6.

To produce blocks of the sponge material without waste and yet providethe forwardly in- 40 ciined front edge and the vertical rear edge astock strip of the material of the proper width may be cut in the mannershown in Figure 1i.

It will be noted that in this diagrammatic view alternate vertical anddiagonal cuts are made in 4 the material as indicated by numerals 10 andii. By this method of cutting the material each block is provided withone beveled side and an opposite straight side without any waste ofmaterial whatever. The alternate blocks 12 may be inverted and appliedto the mop heads in the same manner as the blocks 13 as they are allduplicates. If beveled ends are desired on the individual blocks thesemay be provided by a second operation. 5

By reason of the outwardly flared front and end walls of the spongeblock and because the front and ends of the head are set inwardly of theedges of the sponge material it is possible to readily use the mop inthe corners of rooms and the like to thoroughly clean the parts withoutpossibility of the mop head being brought into contact with thebase-board or other parts of the walls, thereby avoiding damage to thewalls as frequently happens in the use of conventional mo T h e purposeof the heel and toe construction of the head I is to provide a simpleand expeditious method of wringing the mop as will be clear from aninspection of the illustration of Figure 10. The structure of the screenand wringer of this figure will be later described, and it will sufficeto say here that the toe l of the mop head is engaged under a lug orother abutment adjacent a flat surface and the handle of the mop swungrearwardly. This operation, as is obvious, will cause a squeezing actionon the cellulose sponge material between the mop head and the adjacentflat surface. Such portion of the sponge as is caused to move rearwardlyby this action will be engaged by the heel I of the head so that acomplete wringing of the sponge will be accomplished.

The construction shown in Figure 3 is identical with that shown inFigures 1 and 2 except that the toe 4 has been omitted. In thisconstruction the head II is provided with a heel Ii and socket i2, andthe block of cellulose sponge l3 has its front and ends extendedslightly beyond the edges of the head and flared outwardly as heretoforedescribed.-

A wringing action of the mop shown in Figure 3 may be produced by merelyplacing the mop on a flat surface, such as the floor, and applying adownward and forward force to the handle. This operation will squeezethe water from the cellulose sponge by compressing the material betweenthe iloor and sponge head, and such portion of the spronge as isdeflected rearwardly will be engaged by the heel portion II. It shouldalso be noted that this type of wringing action can also be obtained inthe mop shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the modified constructionshereinafter described, when it is not desired to employ the leverageaction involving the toe 4 or its equivalent.

In the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5 the block of cellulosesponge material is identical with that previously described and issecured to the wood block 2| in the same manner except that no heel isprovided on the part II. In lieu of such construction, a metal plate 22is provided which extends rearwardly from the rear half 23 of a clampfor the wood block, and which serves the same function as the heels 6and II of Figures 1 and 3 respectively. The clamp comprises the twosections 23 and 24 which engage grooves in the front and rear edges ofthe block 2i and are provided with complementary socket members and 2.The members 25 and 26 are riveted together as indicated at 21, and themember 25 is provided with an upturned tongue 28 which serves the samefunction as the toe l of Figure l.

The modified construction shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 comprises twoclamping members for gripping the cellulose sponge in lieu of thecementlng connection employed in the previous forms. The sponge materialis preferably cut to the form indicated in Figures 8 and 9. that is, itis provided with the notched ends 3|, which,

when the material is doubled upon itself. provide the outwardly-flaredends II. The upper face of the sponge material is preferably providedwith a channel or groove 83 which better adapts the material to theshape of the .clamp. The upper clamping member consists of a piece ofsheet metal bent to provide an arched central portion 84 with arearwardly extending plate or heel portion II. The forward edge of thearched portion It is turned upwardly to provide a toe or lug-engagingportion II. The other member of the clamp consists of a U-shaped rod llprovided with threads on its ends for engagement with similar threads onclamping nuts 88. In assembling this device the U-shaped rod I1 isengaged under the middle of the sponge material and the legs of the rodare passed through suitably spaced apertures in the top of the clamp I4,after which the nuts 88 are threaded to the legs and screwed down untilthe sponge material is drawn into position.

A socket member 80 is riveted or otherwise secured to the rear side ofthe clamp It to receive the handle 40, and it will be noted that theshape of the clamp is such that the forward face of the sponge materialextends outwardly and downwardly as in the previous forms. This is dueto the fact that the clamp compresses the upper portion of the foldedmaterial while the lower portion remains in its uncompressed state.

In Figures 12 to 15 inclusive are shown mops which are quite similar tothe mop shown in Figure 3, but in which provision is made for a morethorough wringing of the mop material. The mop head of Figures 12 and 13is indicated by the reference character I, while the socket portion forthe handle 3' is designated by reference character 2'. The block ofcellulose sponge I is identical with that heretofore described, but therear under-surface of the head is inclined downwardly and rearwardly toprovide an inclined heel portion I. When downward and forward pressureis applied to this form of mop a portion of the sponge material isdeflected rearwardly just as in the other forms, but due to thedownwardly inclined heel 6' the deflected portion is trapped and is morethoroughly squeezed than is possible for instance in the form shown inFigure 3. In other words, unnecessary bending moments are eliminatedfrom the mop handle, thereby facilitating the wringing action.

This same advantageous result is accomplished in the construction shownin Figures 14 and 15. in which the head I is provided with a socketportion 2' for the reception of a handle 3. In this form of theinvention the operative surface of the block of cellulose sponge isbeveled oil as indicated by numeral 1, and the mop head I inclinesdownwardly and rearwardly as a whole when in use, thereby providing aheel portion I which is identical in function and eflectiveness with theheel 6' of the mop of Figures 12 and 13.

In Figures 10 and 16 is shown a mop pail and wringer specially designedfor the type of mop disclosed herein. The poll is indicated by thenumeral Iii and is illustrated as of substantially rectangular shape. Ascreen II is mounted on the bottom of the pail and while shown as formedof perforated sheet metal it will be understood that wire mesh fabricmay be employed if desired. In the form shown, the main portion of thescreen is spaced only a slight distance from the bottom of the pail bythe feet 52 which consist of short tongues of metal bent downwardly fromthe screen itself. Another portion H of the screen is supported abovethe water level of the pail and is formed by bending the materialupwardly as indicated .by numeral 51, then horizontally and thendownwardly to provide the rear supporting flange 55.

A tongue or tongues 56 are struck-up from the material of the flange 55and are bent over to provide lugs under which the toe of certain of themops may be engaged when this type of wringing action is to be employed.The sponge material will of course be compressed against the platform 53when the mop handle is moved rearwardly and downwardly as heretoforedescribed. This screen therefore serves not only the purpose ofpreventing the mop from coming into contact with sediment in the pailbut also provides a simple and conveniently located wringing device.

In Figures 1'? to 19, inclusive, is shown a .screen and wringer adaptedfor use in a kitchen sink or the like. This form of the inventioncomprises a perforated metal plate 60 provided with downturned flangesii on two opposite ends and an upwardly curled lug 63 adapted to beengaged by the toe of a mop. The downturned flanges iii are preferablyprovided with rubber feet 84 to prevent damage to adjacent objects, andvacuum cups 65 are provided so as to secure the wringer against movementwhile in use.

The operation and advantages of the novel constructions of mops andwringers have been set forth in connection with the description of thestructural details and need not be further referred to except toemphasize the fact that an extremely neat and .attractive mop isprovided by merely connecting a unitary block of cellulose sponge to amop head; that the sponge material is so designed and mounted as toprevent damage to surrounding objects by engagement with the mop head;that an economical method of cutting the sponge material is provided;that the mill may be wrung by merely pressing the same downwardly andforwardly against a flat surface, or by merely engaging the forward edgeof the head under a lug and swinging the mop handle rearwardiy anddownwardly; that a simplified construction of screen and wringer isprovided; and that a modified type of wringer for sinks is alsodisclosed.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I nowbelieve to be the preferred forms of construction, but inasmuch asvarious minor changes may be made in structural details withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention it is intended that all suchdetails be included within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

1. A cleaning device including a head portion, and a substantiallyrectangular block of cellular compressible material secured to theunder-side of the head with its front edge spaced slightly forward ofthe front edge of the head and its rear edge spaced a substantialdistance forward of the rear edge of the head.

2. A cleaning device including a head portion, and a block of cellularmaterial secured to the under-side of the head forwardly of its rearedge so as to provide a rearwardly-extending heel portion, theunder-surface of the heel portion being constructed and arranged to forman acute angle with the floor surface of the cellular block.

3. A cleaning device including a head portion, and a block of cellularmaterial secured to the under-side of the head forwardly of its rearedge so as to provide a rearwardly-extending heel portion, the floorsurface of the cellular block being bevelled-off so as to cause theunder-surface of the heel to be downwardly and rearwardly inclined whenthe device is in use.

4. Acleaning device including a head portion. a substantiallyrectangular block of cellular material secured to the under-side of thehead with its front edge spaced slightly forward of the front edge ofthe head and its rear edge spaced a substantial distance forward of therear edge of the head, the front and side walls of said block ofmaterial being outwardly flared.

5. A cleaning device including a head portion, a block of cellularmaterial secured to the underside of the head portion, a heelportionextending a substantial distance rearwardly from the head portion andhaving an unobstructed under-surface, and a hook portion at the frontend of the head portion.

6. A cleaning device including a head formed of a block of material anda combined clamp and socket attached to said block, arearwardly-extending flange formed on the clamp, and a block of cellularmaterial secured to the under-side of the first-mentioned block with itsrear edge spaced a substantial distance forward of the rear edge of theflange.

7. A cleaning device including a head formed of a block of material anda combined clamp and socket attached to said block, arearwardlyextending flange formed on the rear edge of the clamp, a lugformed on the front edge of the clamp, and a block of cellular materialsecured to the under-side of the first-mentioned block with its rearedge spaced a substantial distance forward of the rear edge of theflange.

8. A cleaning device including a head portion and a block of cellularmaterial secured to the under-side of the head portion forwardly of itsrear edge, said block being thicker at its forward end.

9. A cleaning device including a head portion, a block of cellularmaterial secured to the underside of the head forwardly of its rear edgewith its bottom side or cleaning side forming an acute angle with thelower side of the head so that the forward portion of the cellularmaterial will be substantially thicker than the rear portion.

10. A cleaning device including a head portion, a block of celluiarmaterial secured to the under side of the head forwardly of its rearedge with its front edge spaced slightly forward of the front edge ofthe head and its bottom side or cleaning surface forming an acute anglewith the lower side of the head so that the forward portion of thecellular material will be substantially thicker than the rear portion,and the lower forward edge or the block of cellular material will extendsubstantially forward of the upper forward edge of the block of cellularmaterial when the device is in use.

11. A mop comprising a rectangular head portion of oblong shape havingits longer dimension extending transversely of the normal line ofmovement of the mop, a rearwardly inclined handle secured to the top ofthe head portion, and a substantially oblong block of cellularcompressible material secured to the under-side of the head portion withits rear edge spaced a substantial distance forward of the rear edge ofthe head portion.

12. A mop comprising a rectangular head portion or oblong shape havingits longer dimension extending transversely oi the normal line ofmovement of the mop. a rearwardly inclined handle secured to the top ofthe head portion, a substantially oblong block oi cellular compressiblematerial secured to the under-side oi the head portion with its rearedge spaced a substantial distance forward of the rear edge of the headportion, and means on the iorward edge oi the head portion for engagingunder an abutment.

18. A mop comprising a rectangular head por- Patent No. 2,163,638

tion of oblong shape having its longer dimension extending transverselyof the normal line of movement of the mop, a rearwardly inclined handlesecured to the top oi the head portion, and a substantially oblong blockof cellular compressible material secured to the under-side oi the headportion with its rear edge spaced a substantial distance forward of therear edge of the head portion to provide a rearwardly extending heelportion, the heel portion having a downwardly m inclined under-surface.

SIDNEY P. VAUGHN.

Granted June 27, 1989 SIDNEY P. VAUGHN The above entitled patent wasextended October 2, 1951, under the provisions of the Act of J une 30,1950, for 7 years and 173 days from the expiration of the original termthereof.

Commissioner of Patents.

12. A mop comprising a rectangular head portion or oblong shape havingits longer dimension extending transversely oi the normal line ofmovement of the mop. a rearwardly inclined handle secured to the top ofthe head portion, a substantially oblong block oi cellular compressiblematerial secured to the under-side oi the head portion with its rearedge spaced a substantial distance forward of the rear edge of the headportion, and means on the iorward edge oi the head portion for engagingunder an abutment.

18. A mop comprising a rectangular head por- Patent No. 2,163,638

tion of oblong shape having its longer dimension extending transverselyof the normal line of movement of the mop, a rearwardly inclined handlesecured to the top oi the head portion, and a substantially oblong blockof cellular compressible material secured to the under-side oi the headportion with its rear edge spaced a substantial distance forward of therear edge of the head portion to provide a rearwardly extending heelportion, the heel portion having a downwardly m inclined under-surface.

SIDNEY P. VAUGHN.

Granted June 27, 1989 SIDNEY P. VAUGHN The above entitled patent wasextended October 2, 1951, under the provisions of the Act of J une 30,1950, for 7 years and 173 days from the expiration of the original termthereof.

Commissioner of Patents.

Patent No. 2,163,638 Granted June 27, 1939 SIDNEY P. VAUGHN The aboveentitled patent was extended October 2, 1961, under the provisions ofthe Act of June 30, 1950, for 7 years and 173 days from the expirationof the original term thereof.

Omnz'asiomr of Patents.

